Grain-feeder.



PATENTD NDV. 20, 1906.

J. WELPLR GRMN FEEDER.. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, \l906.v

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

il s.

Np. 836,550. PTENTED NOV. 20, 1906,

J. WELFLE.

GRAIN FEEDER-i APPLIGATION FILED JAN,22, 190e. v

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

-zen vof the United States, residing at Ham-' JOSEPH VVELFLE, OF HAMLER, OHIO. l

Speecation of Letters Patent.

LPatented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed January 22.1906. Serial NoA 297,332.

To a/ZZ whom t fri/ay concern: 4

Be it known that LJosEPrI WELFLE, a citiler, in the county of Henry and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Grain- Feeder, of which the following is a specifica` tion.

This invention relates to grain-feeders, and has for its object to facilitate the introduction of grain into grain -fans and .the like;

to conveniently regulate the discharge of grain therefrom; to mount the shaking-pan stop 1n to'4 l'1n a. new and novel manner so as to prevent choking thereof by the Drain, and to control lthe' operation of the shaking-pan without the yengine. or other source of power c the feeder is connected.

1,5 With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination andarrangement of parts as will be 4hereinafter more fully described, shown in fthe accompanying drawings, and particui larly pointed out in the appended claims, it

. top y dina being understood that changes in the form,

pro ortion, size, and minor details ma be mae-within the scope of the claims wit out `departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In, tlie drawin s, Figure 1 isa side eleva- .tion ofa grain-feeder embodying the features of the present invention., Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device. Fig. 4

is a cross-sectional view on the line 4 4 of @Within the hopper is a shaking-pan comvprising a bottom 5, inclined to the vertical and provided at each longitudinal edge with cent flange 6 and rises a suitable distance thereabove, but terminates short of the top of the hopper. LDownwardly-extending guard-plates 8 are secured to the inner faces plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitu' of upstanding longitudinal ends by fastenings 11, sai plates being offset or spaced away from the sides 1, for instance,' by spacing-strips 9 so as to overlap the upper edges of the sides of the pan, and thereby close the s ace between the upper edges of the sides of the pan and the hopper, which renders the pan grain-tight throughout its sides. Said guard-plates 8 extend in the line of direction of the movement of the pan. The pan is mounted to reciprocate and is supported at its lower end by means of a pair of links 10 upon the exterior of the hopper, with their upper ends loosely hung from suitable fastenings 11, piercing the sides of the hopper above the pan. A cross-bar 12 extends transversely beneath the bottom. of the lpan and pierces its i langes 6, the extremities of the bar working in arcuate slots 13, formed in the sides of the hopper and struck from the pivotal support 11 as a center, said extremities of the bar also piercing the lower ends of the links 10. A similar but reverselydisposed means is employed for sup orting the elevated end of the shoe and inc udes a link `14 at each side of the hopper, with its lower ends pivotally supported upon a crossbar 15, piercing the lower portions of the sides of theho per. A cross-bar 16 pierces the flanges 6 of the pan, with its ends working in arcuate slots 1-7 in the sides of the the inks 14.

Forv the purpose of working the pan back and forth the shaft 18 is mounted transversely across the front end. of the hopper in suitable bearings 19, one eiid of the shaft be.- inv projected beyond the hopper and rovided with a drive-wheel 20, which may e a sprocket-wheel or belt-pulle v, `as desired. Mounted to slide upon the shaft is an eccentric 21, embraced by an eccentric-strap 22, from which an eccentric-rod 23 extends bcneath the bottom of the pan to which it is connected, as at 24. The eccentric 21 is provided with a hub 25, having an annular groove for the forked lower end of an -upstanding lever 26, fulcrumed upon a crossbar 27, extending across the top of the hopper at its forward end. A clutch member 25 1s fixed upon the shaft at one side of the eccentric and is provided withan opening 29 for the reception of a stud or projection 30, carried by the eccentric. When the eccentric is shifted by the lever 26 to bring its projection 3() into engagement withthe opening hopper and connected to the upper ends of roc IOC

I ro

4 necessity of" stopping the engine or other 'are beveled, as best indicated in Fig. 4, and

' bottom of the gate 31 when the latter is ele- 2 eee,

29 in the fixed clutch member 28, the shaft 18 will be thrown into operation and the pan thereby reciproca'ted within the hop per. The operation of the pan can be stopped. by throwing out the clutch, which obviates the Source of power from which. the feeder is be ing driven.

At the rear or discharge end of the hopper there is an upstanding gate 31, mounted in yopper andl connected at their upper ends b y a cross-bar 33. The opening and closing of this gate is controlled in any suitable manner, preferably by an overhead lever, (not shown,) which is suitably connected to the guide forv raising and holdmg the same elevated.

Wooden beams or bars 34 are secured to the flanges 2 upon the top edges of the sides 1 of the ho per and terminate short of the frontend or the hop'ier in abutment with a cross-bar 35, exten ing across the ',hopper. The inner longitudinal corners of these bars the function of these bars is to prevent injury to the baskets or other receptacles which are rested upon the upper edges of thev hopper when dum ing grain into the pan. v f

It will o course be understood that as the bottom of the pan is inclined downwardly and rearwardly'the drain will be Worked in that direction and discharged beneaththe vated. However, it is necessary to close the elevated end of the pan, so as to prevent ese cape of rainat this point. In addition to t l e upper end of the pan Ip'ropose to have t e closure stationary, so as to operate as a ollowerfor pushing forwardly such grain as may collect in the upper portions of the pan..A

In carrying out this feature I susl pend a plate 36 Afrom the cross-bar 35, and to this plate there is secured an elastic plate 37, which is bmved downwardly and forwardly, with its lower free edge resting upon the bottom of the pan. A threaded adjusting de vice 33 pierces the lower portions of the two plates, whereby the shoe 37 may be drawn toward the late36, so as to maintain the free yieldablb edge of the shoe in rietional engagement with the bottom o!" the pan,

I thereby to close therear end of the pan and prevent grain working out.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a grain-feeder the combination oi, a hopper, a reciprocating pan working in the hopper, a stationary spring-shoe carried by the hopper and located within the upper end of the pan in engagement along its entire lower edge with the bottom thereof, and means connected with said hopper and shoe to adjust the tension of the spring of said. shoe. f y

2. I n a grain-feeder, the combination of a hopper, a reciprocating pan workin@r therein, a cross-bar for the hopper above the pan, a plate suspended from the cross-bar and located within the an, a shoe hung from the upper portion of t e late and inclined downt wardly andvforward y into engagement with the bot-tom vof Jthe pan, and adju-sting means connecting the shoe and the plate for drawing the'former toward the plate to maintain ythe shoe engaged with the pan.

In testimony that I laim the foregoing as my own I have heretoaflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. JOSEPH WELFL Witnesses:

J. C. WILHELM, AUGUST FRoss. 

